Window construction



April 2, 1963 s. WALDEN WINDOW CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20, 1961 NVENTOR J'mueZ k/aflvien/ WW/5 M ATTORNEY S. WALDEN WINDOW CONSTRUCTION April 2, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1961 ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3&83358 Patented Apr. 2, 1963 3,fi83,958 WENDGW QGNSTRUETHGN Samuel Walden, 711 Shore Road, North'tield, NJ. Filed Apr. 20, N61, tier. No. 1%,440 3 Claims. (Ql. Zfil-MW) This invention relates generally to window constructions, and is especially concerned with an all-purpose window for buildings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a window construction for buildings, including a storm window which is quickly and easily openable to any desired degree up to substantially 100% of maximum window-opening area, as compared to about 56% opening of conventional double-hung sash, which provides a highly effective weather shield or awning permitting opening during inclement weather and serving to shield both the window opening and air-conditioning apparatus associated with the window from strong solar rays.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a window construction of the type described which includes unique means for suppression of noise, preventing the entry of noise through the window when the window is open, which means also affords stormproof and draft-free storm-window protection when closed.

The teachings of the present invention are well-adapted for use in all types of commercial and residential buildings, and may be incorporated with existing doublehung sash to achieve significant advantages.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a window construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs which is extremely simple in structure, entirely reliable in operation and durable throughout a long useful life, and which can be economically manufactured, installed and maintained.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a rear or inside elevational view showing a window construction according to the teachings of the present invention, partially broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a front or outside elevational view of the window or" FIGURE 1, also partially broken away to show additional structure;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE =1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional plan View of FIGURE 3, and somewhat enlarged for clarity of understanding;

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial horizontal sectional view similar to FIGURE 4, but in greater detail; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the window in a different condition of operation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-3 thereof, the window construction shown therein includes a generally upstanding or vertical frame 19 having vertically extending, parallel spaced sides 11 and 12, a lower horizontal piece or sill 13 extending between the sides, an upper horizontal piece or lintel 14 extending between the upper ends of the sides, and an intermediate horizontal piece or rail 15 extending horizontally between intermediate regions of the sides. Thus, the window frame it} defines a lower opening 16 beneath the rail 15, and an upper opening 17 above the rail. If desired, the lower opening 16 may accommodate air-conditioning apparatus or the like, or may be omitted.

The sidepieces "11 and 12 may be internally hollow, as at 20 and 21 in FIGURE 4, the hollows 20 and 21 of the sidepieces or stiles 11 and 12 opening forwardly, to the left in FIGURE 4, for a purpose appearing presently.

Extending circumferentially about the interior of the frame opening 17 is an internal stop bead or abutment23; and, a removable panel 24, such as a screen or the like, extends completely across the window opening 17 inward or rearward of and with its circumferential margin in forward facing engagement with the bead 23. Just rearward of the panel or screen 24 there may be provided about the interior of the window opening 17 a plurality of removable abut-ments or stops 25 in engagement with the inner face of the screen panel 24, and removable to ermit removal of the screen panel from the window opening.

An additional, inner panel 25, say of glass, is arranged within the window opening 17 extending entirely thereacross, and in forward facing engagement with the stops 25. The inner panel or glass 26 is retained in position by an upper stop 27 extending along the internal or underside of the lintel l4, and a suitable latch 28 adjacent to the rail 15. That is, the stop or abutment 27 is engageabl-e with the inner side of panel 26 in the upper region thereof, and the latch 28 may be a pivoted latch carried by the panel 26 and releasably engageable in the rail 15. Upon release or disengagement of the latch 28 from the rail 15, the panel 26 may be shifted from its generally vertical position of FIGURE 3 to its inclined position of FIGURE 7. That is, the lower end of panel 26 may be shifted rearward, the upper end of the panel dropping slightly but still retained by the stop 27. To limit or prevent further shifting or Withdrawal of the panel 26 from the window opening 17, inner stops or abutments 29 are removably secured on the upper side of rail 15 at the inner edge thereof, each being adjacent to a respective frame side 11 and 12. In the region between the stops 29, spaced intermediate the frame sides 11 and i2, and inward of the panel 2s when in its vertical position of FIGURE 3, the upper side of rail 15 is formed with a recess 30 facing upwardly into the window opening 17 and inwardly from the inner side of the frame 10. Upon rearward shifting movement of the panel 26 to its position of FIGURE 7, fluid communication may exist through the recess 30, beneath the lower edge of panel 26, between the inner and outer sides of the window opening 17.

0f course, the panel 26 may be entirely withdrawn from the frame iii by removal of the stops 29, and further, the panel 24 may be withdrawn from the frame by removal of the stops 25.

On the front or outer side of the frame It), extending laterally entirely across the lower region of window opening 17, is a lower panel 33. In its closed condition, see FIGURES 1-6, the lower panel 33 is located within the lower region of window-frame opening 17, extending laterally across the forwardly opening hollows 26* and 21 of the sidepieces ill and i2, and having its forward face substantially flush with the forward edges of the frame It). The lower panel 33 may be of any suitable construction, say wood, metal, glass or plastic, and has its lower edge hinged, as at 34, to the rail 15 for swinging movement be tween the open position of FIGURE 7 outstanding away from the frame it}, and the closed position upstanding from the rail entirely within the frame opening 17. As

3 best seen in FIGURES 2 and 6, the lower panel 33 is provided along opposite side edges with cutouts 35 spaced from the hinge 34 and disposed in front of the sidepiece hollows 20 and 21 when the lower panel is in closed position.

An upper panel 38 extends laterally entirely across the window opening 17 and depends, in its closed condition, from the upper rail or lintel 14 toward and terminates short of the rail 15. The upper panel 33 is hinged, as at 39, to the lintel 14 for swinging movement from its depending closed position to an open position outstanding forward from the frame 10, as in FIGURE 7. The panel 33 may be fabricated in any desired manner, say of metal, plastic, glass, wood, or combinations thereof, and is located and arranged to extend laterally entirely across the frame 10, overlying the forward edges of the frame sidepieces or stiles 11 and 12, as best seen in FIGURES 4 "and 6, with its lower portion overlying the upper portion of lower panel 33, as best seen in FIGURE 3.

A pair of linkage mechanisms, each generally designated 42, are connected between the lower and upper panels 33 and 38, and constrain the latter to simultaneous swinging movement between their open and closed positions. In the closed position of panels 33 and 38, the linkage mechanisms 42 are located in the respective hollows 2t) and 21 of stiles 11 and 12, while in the open panel position, the linkage mechanisms move from the internal hollows forward of the frame 10.

The linkage mechanisms 42 are substantially identical,

so that a detailed description of one will suflice. Thus, each linkage mechanism 42 includes a bar 43 extending rigidly from adjacent to a respective side edge of the upper panel 38, the bar 42 projecting generally normally from the inner or undersurface of the upper panel remote from its hinged connection 39. Projecting generally normally from the inner or upper surface of the lower panel 33, adjacent to each cutout or slot 35, is a rigid lug or bracket 44. A link 45 has its opposite ends pivotally connected, as at 46 and 47, respectively, to the ends of bars or brackets 43 and 44 remote from their respective carrying panels 38 and 33. In the closed condition of panels 33 and 38, see FIG- URE 3, the bar 43 projects inward through the cutout 35 of lower panel 33 toward the panel 24. The bar or bracket 44 is located directly above the bar 43, and the link 45 extends generally upward between its pivotal end connections 46 and 47. By gravity, the upper panel 38 tends to depend vertically and retain the lower panel 33 in its closed position.

An operating member 50 has one end pivotally connected, as at 51, to the link 45 intermediate the ends thereof, and extends generally rearward through and inward beyond the frame sidepiece or stile 11. Upon forward manual actuation of the operating or control member 50, as from the closed position of FIGURE 3, the upper panel 38 is caused to swing outward and upward,while the lower panel 33 swings downward and out ward under gravity. By the connecting linkages 42, the gravitational force acting on lower panel 33 is transmitted to the upper panel 38, so that the force necessary to raise the latter panel is eifectively counterbalanced by gravity acting upon the lower panel. Upon continued opening movement of the panels 33 and 38, the bracket 43 and its pivot 46 swing upward, while the bracket 44 and its pivot 47 swing downward, to effect inversion of the link 45. In the fully open condition of FIGURE 7, the pivot 47 of link 45 is swung downward about the pivot 46 and beyond dead center, so that gravity acting upon both the lower and upper panels 33 and 38 tends to continue opening movement of the former and cause closing movement of the latter. However, an abutment or stop 52 is carried by the bracket 43 and engages the link 45 to limit its clockwise rotation about pivot 46, as seen in FIGURE 7. By dead center is meant that location of the panels 33 and 4 38 wherein the force of gravity changes from tending to urge both panels closed to urging both panels downward about their hinged connections. Thus, in the fully open condition of FIGURE 7, the panels have swung beyond the condition where they are substantially counterbalanced or urged toward their closed condition, to the very stable condition where they are both urged downward by gravity. It is in this condition that link 45 engages stop 52 to limit further downward swinging movement of the panels.

In order to return the panels from their open position of FIGURE 7 to their closed position of FIGURES l-6, it is only necessary to draw inward or rightward on the control arm 50, thereby swinging the pivot 47 inward and upward about the pivot 46, so that the link 45 commences its reversion to the generally upstanding condition of FIGURE 3. Of course, the panels 33 and 38 may be positively retained in any selected position intermediate that of FIGURES 3 and 7, as by ears 54 carried by the stile 11 on opposite sides of and receiving therebetween the arm 54 A pin 55 may be engaged laterally through the cars 54 and through a selected hole 56 of the arm 50 to secure the arm and the swingable panels in a desired position of their swinging movement.

As may be seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, only one of the linkages 42 is provided with a control arm. Of course, either one of the linkages may be so provided, or both, if desired. Further, in lieu of a control arm such as that illustrated, it may be desired to provide a control arm having threaded connection with the frame, so that windowopening adjustment may be accomplished by a cranking action, if desired.

It will now be appreciated that the lower and upper swingable panels 33 and 38 are adjustable throughout a wide range for any desired area of opening, and that the upper panel 38 serves to afford a highly effective weather shield or awning, so that the panels may be open during rain and the like. Also, the upper panel 38 swings forward or outward beyond the lower panel 33 to insure the exclusion of precipitation. In addition, the lower panel 33 effectively excludes or suppresses street noise from outside a building to prevent its entry through the window opening 17. When desired, the panels 33 and 38 close completely and tightly to afford a draft-free and storrnproof closure, while during the use of air conditioning, the panels may be opened or extended outward to effectively shield the air-conditioning apparatus from solar rays and thereby increase its operating efficiency.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a window construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well-adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, installation and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A counterweighted window construction comprising a frame having upper, lower and side members and defining therebetween a window opening, an upper panel hinged at its upper edge to the upper frame member for swinging movement between an open outstanding position and a closed depending position, said upper panel being gravitationally urged inward toward its closed position, a lower panel hinged at its lower edge to the lower frame member for swinging movement between a closed upstanding position and an open outstanding position, said lower panel being gravitationally urged outward toward its open position, the lower edge region of said upper panel overlying the upper edge region of said lower panel when said panels are both in closed position, a link having its opposite ends respectively pivoted to the lower edge region of said upper panel and the upper edge region of said lower panel and connecting said panels together for constrained simultaneous opening and closing respectively upon outward and inward movement of said link, said link inverting during its outward and inward movement upon respective opening and closing of said panels, and an actuating arm having one end pivotally connected to said link for moving the latter outward and inward to effect respectively opening and closing movement of said panels, said upper and lower paneu-s by the gravitational urging thereof respectively imparting counteracting inward and outward forces to said link to minimize the actuating force required by said arm.

2. A counterweighted window construction according to claim 1, said actuating arm being pivotally connected 6 to said link proximate to the end thereof connected to said lower panel.

3. A counterweighted Window construction according to claim 1, in combination with stop means associated with said link to limit outward movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED 'STATES PATENTS 532,483 Poertner et a1. Jan. 15, 1895 1,959,941 Wiley May 22, 1934 2,599,032 Widen June 3, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,639 Switzerland May 11, 189-8 

1. A COUNTERWEIGHTED WINDOW CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING UPPER, LOWER AND SIDE MEMBERS AND DEFINING THEREBETWEEN A WINDOW OPENING, AN UPPER PANEL HINGED AT ITS UPPER EDGE TO THE UPPER FRAME MEMBER FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN OPEN OUTSTANDING POSITION AND A CLOSED DEPENDING POSITION, SAID UPPER PANEL BEING GRAVITATIONALLY URGED INWARD TOWARD ITS CLOSED POSITION, A LOWER PANEL HINGED AT ITS LOWER EDGE TO THE LOWER FRAME MEMBER FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CLOSED UPSTANDING POSITION AND AN OPEN OUTSTANDING POSITION, SAID LOWER PANEL BEING GRAVITATIONALLY URGED OUTWARD TOWARD ITS OPEN POSITION, THE LOWER EDGE REGION OF SAID UPPER PANEL OVERLYING THE UPPER EDGE REGION OF SAID LOWER PANEL WHEN SAID PANELS ARE BOTH IN CLOSED POSITION, A LINK HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS RESPECTIVELY PIVOTED TO THE LOWER EDGE REGION OF SAID UPPER PANEL AND THE UPPER EDGE REGION OF SAID LOWER PANEL AND CONNECTING SAID PANELS TOGETHER FOR CONSTRAINED SIMULTANEOUS OPENING AND CLOSING RESPECTIVELY UPON OUTWARD AND INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID LINK, SAID LINK INVERTING DURING ITS OUTWARD AND INWARD MOVEMENT UPON RESPECTIVE OPENING AND CLOSING OF SAID PANELS, AND AN ACTUATING ARM HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID LINK FOR MOVING THE LATTER OUTWARD AND INWARD TO EFFECT RESPECTIVELY OPENING AND CLOSING MOVEMENT OF SAID PANELS, SAID UPPER AND LOWER PANELS BY THE GRAVITATIONAL URGING THEREOF RESPECTIVELY IMPARTING COUNTERACTING INWARD AND OUTWARD FORCES TO SAID LINK TO MINIMIZE THE ACTUATING FORCE REQUIRED BY SAID ARM. 